My Brain's Best Friend
Why I keep a catch all notebook
This week, where I left the house in a rush without my notebook. I missed it so much that it was one of the first things I bought from the first shop I went to.
Many of you who have subscribed for a while know I love a paper notebook for productivity, idea creation and mental clarity. Not a fancy, perfectly organised ones, but the kind that’s a glorious mess—half to-do list, half brainstorming session, with a few coffee stains for character. I call mine a catch-all notebook; it’s my brain’s best friend.
You know those moments when your mind is juggling a million things? Random ideas, things you need to remember, the title of that book someone recommended? If I don’t write them down immediately, they’re gone. That’s where my catch-all notebook saves me. It’s the one place where everything goes, no matter how big, small, or completely random.
I used to try keeping separate notebooks—one for work, one for personal stuff, one for ideas. But guess what? That just made me more disorganised because I could never remember which notebook had what. So, I ditched the system and embraced the chaos. Now, I have one notebook, and it holds everything.
One page might be a list of things I need to do. The next could be a half-baked idea for an article. A few pages later? A drawing from my daughter. The magic of a catch-all notebook is that it doesn’t have to be neat or structured—it just has to exist.
Keeping all my thoughts in one place clears up so much mental clutter. Instead of trying to remember things (and failing), I write them down, freeing up brain space for actual thinking. Plus, flipping back through old notes is like discovering time capsules of past ideas—some good, some terrible, but all helpful.
The best part? My catch-all notebook is just for me. No one sees it, so there’s no pressure to make it look good. I can write in a rush, scribble nonsense, cross things out, and let it be messy. It’s a judgment-free zone where perfection doesn’t matter—only getting thoughts out of my head and onto paper.
A catch-all notebook might change your life if you’ve ever struggled with keeping track of ideas, tasks, or just random thoughts. Grab a notebook, stop worrying about structure, and start writing.
Your brain will thank you.
Before we go, last week's cover vote winner was Cover B, which I am pleased to say was mine. Thank you to all those who helped.
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Until next week stay safe
Sam 😊
I write and write until my brain hurts. I write everyday - Eminem
